The Shopware Download: In a few steps to your Shopware 6 store
You want to create your own online store for your products and have chosen the Shopware store system? Then you've come to the right place for all tips and instructions on downloading the latest Shopware version and configuring your store for the first time using the initial setup wizard. We explain what Shopware 6 is and what it is all about, show you how to start the download and make the first settings.
Reading time 7 min
- What is Shopware 6?
- Shopware 6 requirements: What you need to consider before installation
- Shopware 6 installation: Step by step
- Finished - and what happens next?
- FAQ
What is Shopware 6?
Shopware 6 is a powerful e-commerce platform that gives you everything you need to create a successful online store. Shopware 6 is the latest version of the Shopware platform, which includes a number of improvements and new features. One of the most notable changes is the move to a more modular approach, which makes it easier to customize and expand your store. Shopware 6 also includes a new headless API that allows you to create decoupled front-ends for your store. In addition, Shopware 6 has been optimized for performance, making it faster and more responsive than previous versions of the platform. If you're looking for a robust eCommerce platform that can be customized to your needs, Shopware 6 is an excellent choice. In the next sections, we'll explain everything you need to install Shopware 6 and how the store system installation works in general.
By the way, Shopware has a new package and pricing model since September 2022. You can choose between the packages Rise, Evolve and Beyond. The Rise package is available from 600 euros per month - for the other two packages, the price is only available on request, tailored to your individual needs. The free Community Edition is still available.
Does Shopware 6 suit you and your plans?
Before you start preparing for the download, you might want to check if Shopware 6 is suitable for your project and your vision of your own store. For this purpose we have created a small checklist.
Shopware 6 is suitable for you if:
- you have a small or medium-sized business, but the store system is also suitable for large corporations
- you have no programming skills
- you have programming skills. Because Shopware also offers possibilities of individual configuration
- you want to put little effort into the administration
- you like good technology and design
- you want to take various marketing measures
Before the installation: The requirements of Shopware 6
For the installation of the Shopware store system you have to meet some technical requirements, which we would like to present to you now. If the requirements for the Shopware 6 version have not been met, a successful Shopware 6 download will be difficult.
You should have fulfilled these requirements before the installation:
1. the right operatingbsystem
If you have decided to use the Shopware online shop system, then you need the right operating system to be able to use Shopware. For example, the store system does not work with the Windows operating system, but on most Unix-based operating systems. Shopware itself recommends the use with a Linux environment like Ubuntu.
2. the right environment
For the environment you can use PHP in version 7.4.3 or higher and SQL in version MySQL 5.7.21 or higher. However, you should note that MySQL versions 8.0.20 and 8.0.21 are not compatible. In addition, MariaDB version 10.3.22 or higher will also work, but again, some versions will not work: 10.3.29, 10.4.19 and 10.5.10.
By the way, you can find more compatibilities directly on Shopware's site.
3. htaccess adjustments
With a htaccess file you can allow access to your store only for selected users. The htaccess file is a configuration file on your web server that defines who has access to the shared files and folders. For the Shopware 6 download, you should make sure that you have not yet restricted access.
However, if you want to limit access to your site from the beginning by password protecting it, you have to exclude requests to the "/api" endpoint of Shopware. Otherwise the admin area and the installation of Shopware may not work correctly. Shopware provides for example the following snippet for the .htaccess to enable password protection but exclude the "/api" route*:
AuthType Basic
AuthName "Please login."
AuthUserFile /path/to/.htpasswd
<RequireAny>
Require expr %{THE_REQUEST} =~ m#.*?\s+\/api.*?#
Require valid-user
</RequireAny>
4. routing settings
Another requirement for the successful Shopware 6 download is to adjust the routing settings of the web server. If you don't know how to make the routing settings, your hosting partner can always help you as well. For example, Shopware recommends making the following arrangements with APACHE*:
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName "_HOST_NAME_"
DocumentRoot _SHOPWARE_DIR_/public
<Directory _SHOPWARE_DIR_>
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
AllowOverride All
Order allow,deny
allow from all
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/shopware-platform.error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/shopware-platform.access.log combined
LogLevel debug
</VirtualHost>
Here, of course, you still need to make your customizations. This applies to _SHOPWARE_DIR and _HOST_NAME_.
Shopware 6 installation: explained step by step
Now, if you have fulfilled all requirements, you can start with the Shopware 6 download. In the following you will learn step by step how to proceed. If you have any questions about Shopware, we at EXWE will of course be happy to help and advise you.
And this is how you proceed:
1. download the Shopware 6 installer
In the first step you should download the Shopware 6 Installer. You can find it on the Shopware website(https://www.shopware.com/de/download/#shopware-6). There you will also find the update package for Shopware 6 if you are already using Shopware. If you are just setting up your Shopware 6 online store, you should also download the update package afterwards.
2. complete the installation with the Shopware 6 Installer
With the Shopware 6 Installer you can easily complete the installation. Unpack the installer on your system and check if the files and directories have write permissions. In the next step, the installer checks if you meet all system requirements and if so, you will be redirected to the terms and conditions, which you have to confirm. After that you can configure and import the database.
3. check if the download was successful
Once you have downloaded the Shopware installer and unpacked the files, you can check if everything worked without errors. To do this, use another program to find out what the checksum of the download is. The algorithm such as MD5 then determines this for you. You can compare the result with the checksum on the Shopware page.
And after the Shopware 6 download, what happens next?
Now the Shopware download is already finished and your own store is installed. So you can look at your Shopware 6 administration and click through your store. Create new products or find your way around by browsing the different categories. If you have any questions or need help with the initial setup of your store, we as Shopware experts will be happy to help you. Otherwise, we have a tip for you: Simply use the initial setup wizard to get your store ready for operation. You can find out how to do this in the following section!
Using the initial setup wizard to get your online shop fully functional
You have successfully completed the Shopware 6 download? Then the Shopware admin interface should open. This is where the initial setup wizard comes into play. Because this should also open directly. The initial setup wizard is a good help, so that you can quickly set up your store according to your own ideas. It helps you with the first steps!
Installation of the language packs: This allows you to customize the language of the administration interface for the logged in user. If you have added products, you can also select this language for the products individually.
Import data: In the next step, the initial setup wizard will help you download the demo data for your first products, for example. However, this is only a test. You should not use the data for your real store. However, you will get an impression of how a product page should look like. Of course, you don't have to import the data.
Settings for sending and receiving emails: The third step is about your settings for the mailer. You can also set the settings later or change the settings later.
Set up PayPal directly: You can even set up PayPal directly using the initial setup wizard and enter your PayPal API credentials.
The Shopware Markets extension: This allows you to offer your products on other marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. You should definitely look into this extension to increase your reach.
Create a Shopware account: In the last step with the initial setup wizard you can create a Shopware account. This way you can access all licenses and extensions you have purchased.
Tip: You can reopen the initial setup wizard at any time if it does not open automatically after the second login to your store. To do this, go to System in the settings. You will find it there and can open it that way.
FAQ
At the end of this article we would like to answer a few questions about Shopware 6. With this information you have a good overview of the latest version of the store system. If your questions about Shopware have not been answered yet, or if you have a general question, you can always contact the EXWE team; we will help you with words and deeds!
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What does Shopware 6 cost?
The costs for Shopware 6 play of course a big role, should you decide for the store system. Shopware 6 offers three different editions as well as a free Community Edition, which is perfect for beginners. These paid Shopware 6 versions are available for you to choose from: Rise, Evolve and Beyond. The Rise edition is available from 600 euros per month and includes, for example, the visual page builder, the premium themes and the blog. The other two versions Evolve and Beyond are available at an individual price. If you decide for one of the two versions, you have to ask Shopware first. Included are Rise features as well as CMS rules, Quick View, Storytelling and much more.
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What is the difference between Shopware 5 and 6?
Shopware 5 and Shopware 6 differ mainly in the technical implementation. In addition, there are features in the latest version of the store system that did not exist in Shopware 5. New logic, new variant modules, markups for variants and a new generator are possible with Shopware 6. The Shopware 6 backend offers new logic for sales channels that allows you to sell directly from the Shopware backend to Amazon and other platforms. Shopware 6 also introduces experience worlds that can be edited on the details page. Finally, Shopware 6 gives you the ability to create subshops/language stores using channel logic. With the Rule Builder, you can create a flexible business logic that suits your specific needs.
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Why Shopware 6?
Shopware 6 is the latest version of the e-commerce store system and thus offers new and revised features. The modern design of your webshops is now possible in a holistic way. What is special is that the front and back end has been improved compared to the one in Shopware 5. So it is more intuitive and allows a clear editing and customization according to your ideas. You should also opt for Shopware 6, because innovations and improvements are only regularly released for this version. The developers of Shopware no longer deal with Shopware 5.
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What are the system requirements for installing Shopware 6?
When installing Shopware 6, there are certain system requirements that the store owner must observe. These prerequisites refer to the technical requirements in order to make the most of Shopware 6's range of functions.
The Shopware 6 installation process usually requires the following system requirements:
1. server: The store owner needs a web server that uses Apache or Nginx as software. A server with sufficient performance is required to run the online store smoothly.
2. PHP version: Shopware 6 requires at least PHP 7.2. For the best performance, it is recommended to use PHP 7.4 or higher. Some Shopware features may require certain PHP extensions, such as OpenSSL or the GD library.
3. database: Shopware 6 supports various relational database management systems (RDBMS) such as MySQL version 5.7 or later. Other supported databases include MariaDB version 10.2 or later and PostgreSQL version 9.6 or later.
4. operating system: Shopware 6 can be installed on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS and Linux. However, the specific requirements depend on the web server and PHP version used.
5. Browser: Up-to-date web browsers are recommended for accessing the Shopware admin backend and frontend. Compatibility has been ensured with popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.
It is important that the store owner ensures that the system requirements are met before installing Shopware 6. This will ensure a smooth installation process and enable the full functionality of the Shopware 6 platform.
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Is Shopware 6 extensible?
Yes, Shopware 6 is an extensible e-commerce platform. Through the use of plugins and extensions, store owners can customize and extend the functionality of Shopware 6 according to their needs.
By integrating plugins, various extensions and features can be added to Shopware 6. These plugins can be developed by the Shopware community or by third-party developers. With a wide range of available plugins, store owners can customize the basic settings of the store and add additional features to improve the shopping experience for their clientele.
The extensibility of Shopware 6 allows store operators to customize the store and implement specific requirements. For example, they can integrate payment gateways, customize shipping options, integrate marketing tools, display additional product information, and much more. These extensions help optimize the shopping experience for the clientele and enable store operators to manage their business effectively.
Thanks to Shopware 6's modular design, store operators can also develop and implement their own extensions to implement specific requirements that go beyond the available plugins. This gives store operators the flexibility to tailor their online store to their exact needs and create a customized shopping experience for their clientele.
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Is the Shopware store system scalable?
Shopware is a scalable store system. It offers the possibility to adapt the online store according to the requirements and growth of the customer group.
Shopware's flexible pricing model allows store owners to accommodate their preferences and business models. Shopware offers different editions, including a Community Edition for smaller businesses and an Enterprise Edition for larger businesses with advanced features and support.
Shopware's scalability allows store owners to adjust their store as their customer base grows. Whether it's a growing number of products, increasing traffic, or the need for an expanded infrastructure, Shopware provides the ability to scale the store accordingly.
Shopware's scalability also allows store owners to improve customer retention. Shopware can be used to create personalized product offers, discounts, coupons, and specific marketing promotions for different customer groups. These features help strengthen customer loyalty and encourage recurring purchases.
In addition, Shopware also offers the option of integrating third-party solutions, such as CRM systems or ERP systems, to link the store with other company processes and increase efficiency.
Overall, the scalability of Shopware offers store operators the flexibility to adapt their store to the growing requirements and preferences of their customer group. This allows them to grow their business and continuously improve the customer experience.
References
https://docs.shopware.com/de/shopware-6-de/erste-schritte/shopware-6-installieren
https://docs.shopware.com/de/shopware-6-de/erste-schritte/ersteinrichtungs-assistent
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Hello, my name is Meike. I take care of the EXWE back office and am responsible for our social media channels. All of our articles are meant to make your life easier and help you make decisions. Nevertheless, it can happen that something remains unclear, so: If you have questions about this article you can easily reach me at +49 231 93149827.
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